Flange forming machine



@fic 1935" J. H. ABRAMSON ET AL fl fi FLANGE FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 19357 J. H. ABRAMSON ET AL. zflififi FLANGE FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 8, 1935 PATENT OFFIQE FLANGE FORMING MACHINE John Herbert Abramson and Edwin C. Swanson, Rockford, 111., assignors to Greenlee Bros. & 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August v, 1933; Serial No. 683,950

12 Claims. (01. 153-29) This invention relates to flange forming devices and more particularly toa flange forming machine for forming flanges on the ends of tubes.

It is frequently desirable to form a flange directly on the end of the tube. This is true in the case of thin walled conduit tubes, the flanges being formed to permit the tubes to be secured. together end to end by means of flange couplings which draw and secure the flanges on the ends of adjacent tubes into contact. In this manner the tubes are securely fastened together and the tubes so fastened present a. substantially smooth interior. When other than full lengths of tubes are joined, it becomes necessary to cut off a portion of a full length tube. Under such circumstances it is necessary to insure that the cut end shall be smooth and lie in a plane at right angles to the axis in order that the flange formed thereon will properly abut the adjacent flange.

An object of the invention is to provide a generally improved flange forming device for tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light Weight flange forming device capable of being conveniently carried about by the workmen and one which may be repeatedly applied to the Work.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a flange forming device having a frame and a plurality of rollers for supporting the frame on the work to travel circumferentially of the tube, and having means for trimming and formingthe flange.

We have also aimed to provide a forming device having a pair of formers movable toward each other to engage the work and movable on the periphery of the tube to cut the metal so that the end of the tube occupies a plane at right angles to the axis of the tube and to form a flange on the end of the tube.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flange forming device arranged to simultaneously trim the end of the tube and form the flange.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flange forming device having a roller in a. fixed position and a plurality of rollers adjustable with respect thereto to grip a tube therebetween and a cutter cooperable with the fixed roller to sever the metal and form a. flange.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a flange forming device having means for accommodating tubes of widely varying diameters.

Other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and the accompany ing drawings, in which-a Figure 1 is a side view of a flange forming machine embodying our invention showing a tube of relatively large diameter positioned therein;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 partly in section showing the rollers and the carriage ad- 5 vancing screw;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device showing the end of a pipe in position to start the flanging operations;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the device;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Figure l;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 6 showing the carriage in section and a section of the end of a small tube;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. '7 showing the position of the parts during the forming and cutting operation, and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the position' of the parts upon the completion of the forming and cutting operation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 5, .the numeral I! designates a yoke having an end l2 bifurcated to provide ears l3 and M for the support of a forming roller l5 therebetween on a pin I6 supported on the ears. The center of the yoke carries ways I! and I8 upon which is supported a carriage I9, the carriage having two pairs of guides 2| and 22 engaging the ways I! and 18 to support the carriage on the yoke for longitudinal movement. The upper side of the yoke 19 is recessed as shown at 23 for the reception of rollers 24, 25 and 26 supported upon pins 21, 28, and 29, respectively, so as to be parallel with the roller l5. The pins 21, 28 and 29 are supported in opposite sides of the frame 19 in a convenient manner, as for example, by cotter pins 3|. Each side of the carriage I9 may contain one or more supplementary openings 32 to permit the rollers to be laterally shifted for suitable contact with a tube 33 arranged to be received between the rollers, the particular openings shown being for the purpose of shifting the roller 2 3 from an outermost to'an innermost position. It will normally only be necessary to provide one of such pairs of openings 32 as shown in the drawings. The opposite end 34 of the yoke I! has a cylindrical bore 35 for the reception of a screw 36, the forward end of the screw being a seated in the carriage l9, as shown at 31, and

being retained therein by a detent 38 secured to the carriage by means of a screw 39 and having a forked end 4| received in an annular recess 42 in the screw. The screw is threaded as shown at 43 and passes through an internally threaded nut 44 positioned in the end 34 of the yoke with its center coaxial with the bore 34. The end 34 of the yoke is slotted, as shown at 45, for the reception of the nut 44, and the nut is slotted as shown at 46 for the reception of a tongue 41 on the end 34, the tongue preventing rotation of the nut and the screw 36 preventing lateral displacement of the nut. The outer end of the screw 36 carries a knob 48 arranged for manual rotation of the screw. Rotation of the screw serves to carry the carriage toward and away from the end I2 of the yoke to bring the roller I and the rollers 24, 25 and 26 into contact with opposite sides of the tube 33. Integral with the end I2 of the yoke and offset from the plane of the yoke is a frame member 49, the member 49 being'one element of the frame consisting of the yoke II, the carriage I9 and the member 49. The latter has an axial bore 5| and a pair of depending guiding edges 52 and 53 for the purpose of supporting and guiding a cutter support designated generally by the numeral 54. The cutter support has a cylindrical portion 55 slidable in the bore 5I and internally threaded and a block 56 at its lower end arranged to bear at opposite sides against the edges 52 and 53, the edges guiding the block in the longitudinal movement of the support and normally preventing rotation between the cutter support and the member 49. An element 51 is journaled in the member 49, as shown at 58, and carries an externally threaded screw 59 receivable in the cylindrical portion 55 and engaging the intemal threads thereof. A pin 6| passing through the member 49 intersects a groove 62 in the element 58 to prevent longitudinal movement of the screw 59 and permit rotation thereof. Arms 63 on the element 51 are adapted to be grasped for manual rotation of the screw 59 for the purpose of longitudinally moving the cutter support 54. The block 56 has a bore 64 and a counterbore 65 for the reception'of a pin 66, a threaded end 6! thereof being received within a threaded opening 68, the threaded end 61 extending beyond the block 56 and having a slot 69 adapted to be engaged by a screwdriver or other tool to rotate the pin 66 and through the threads thereon determine its position in the counterbore 65. A nut II serves to lock the threaded end 61 at any desired point of adjustment. The outer end of the pin 66 carries a flange I2, the bore 64 providing space for the movement of this flange upon adjustment of the position of the pin 66. The face of the flange I2 and the end of the pin 66 serve as a bearing support for a cutter I3 secured thereagainst by means of a screw I4.

For the most convenient operation of the device it is doubtless advisable to secure the tube 33 against rotation by fastening the same in a vise or other convenient tube support. When the tube is so secured, adjustment of the carriage I9 will bring the rollers into contact with the outer surface of the tube so as to secure the device on the tube. In this position the yoke may be rotated about the tube, the rollers moving over the circumference. The rollers I5, 24, 25 and 26 should be of such length as to support the flanging device for rotation on the tube in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tube and not permit of any substantial deviation from this plane. The device is supported in such proximity to the end of the tube that the cutter I3 enters the end of the tube in which position the handle 63 is rotated until the cutter comes into contact with the inner surface of the tube. The yoke II is then rotated about the tube, the cutter I3 being periodically adjusted so as to progressively form the metal between the cutter and the roller I5, the adjustment and rotation being continued until the metal has been severed at this point.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the cutter and of the rollers, attention is directed to Figs. 6 and 7, wherein the roller I5 is shown as being of uniform diameter throughout substantially its entire length with the exception that at its inner end an annular recess I5 is formed in the outer surface of the roller providing an annular cutting edge I6 at the extreme end of the roller. shown each of the rollers I5, 24, 25 and 26 formed in the same manner. It is not by any means essential that the rollers 24, 25 and 26 be formed in this mann r, but by so doing we are enabled to make the latter rollers serve as replacement rollers for the roller I5 so that when the cutting edge of the roller I5 becomes dull it may be exchanged with one of the other rollers thus held in reserve. However, if the rollers 24, and 26 are to be of uniform diameter it will be necesported that the end thereof is substantially 00 planar with the end of the roller I5, there being only sufficient clearance between the ends of these two elements to permit the cutter to move by the end of the roller as shown in Fig. 9.

In use, a tube such as shown at 33 is secured against rotation, as previously described, and the carriage I9 is adjusted so as to clamp the tube between the roller I5 and the rollers on the carriage, the device being secured in a position such that the end of the tube will bear against the shoulder I9 of the cutter. The cutter is then adjusted by means of the handle 63 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The device is then rotated onthe tube by means of the knob 48 or otherwise, the

cutter being progressively advanced by movement of the handle 63. If the tube should have been cut crooked and the shoulder I9 had been brought to bear against the shorter side of the tube, the shoulder will cause the tube to be shifted longitudinally with respect to the device upon rotation so as to cut off only a minimum quantity from the end of the tube. As rotation proceeds, the metal of the tube is first forced into the annular recess I5 by the periodic adjustment of the cutter I3 as shown in Fig. 8. Upon continued rotation of 0 the device on the tube and adjustment of the cutter, the metal is severed between the cutting edge of the cutter and the edge I6 of the roller I5, as shown in Fig. 9. It will be seen that this cutting operation provides a smooth sideto the flange which was formed during the early stages of the operation.

Attention is directed to the fact that we have provided means for simultaneously trimming olf the irregularities on the end of the tube so that the end of the tube will lie in a plane at right angles to the axis and for simultaneously forming a flange on the end of the tube. It will be noted that because of the manner of forming this flange,

a smooth surface is provided on the end of the In the drawings we have 5 tube walls for complete contact with the adjacent tube when two tubes are drawn together by means of flange couplings.

The flange forming device herein described is such that it may be conveniently and rapidly applied to the tube and the forming operations may be carried out with dispatch. Furthermore, the device is relatively light in weight and may be conveniently carried about by the workmen from place to place and from one position to another on the same job.

It should also be noted that the device is capa ble of use on tubes of a wide variety of diameters, a relatively large tube being shown in Fig. 6 and a comparatively small tube in Fig. '7 We have also provided a device wherein a plurality of supplementary forming rollers are held in reserve, and

while being so held in reserve, serve separate and independent functions.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the device is so arranged that only a minimum amount of the tube is trimmed off during the operation in order to straighten the end of the tube and to form the flange and that both of these operations are simultaneously carried on, both operations being normally essential to a complete job.

While we have thus described and illustrated a specific embodiment of our invention we are aware that numerous alterations and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we do not wish to be limited except as required by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims, in which We claim:

1. The combination in a flange forming device for tubes of a pair of spaced flange forming members adapted to receive the wall of the tube therebetween, means for moving one of said members toward and away from the other, and means for guiding the flange forming members including a plurality of rollers for holding the tube against the secondflange forming member and for supporting the device on the tube for rotation on the periphery thereof to move the flange forming members around the tube in a plane truly transverse to the axis thereof whereby to form, an annular flange thereon transverse to the axis of the tube.

2. The combination in a flange forming device for tubes of a pair of rotatable flange forming and cutting members adapted to receive the wall of the tube therebetween, one of said members being movable laterally toward and away from the other, a plurality of rollers for holding the tube against the second flange forming member and for supporting the device on the tube for rotation on the periphery thereof, and means for progressively advancing the first flange forming member toward the second during such rotation to progressively trim the end of the tube and form an annular flange on the tube transverse to the axis thereof.

3. The combination in a flange forming device for tubes of astationary roller adapted to bear against the outer surface of the tube, a laterally movable cutter spaced from the stationary roller for the reception of the wall of the tube therebetween, the cutter bearing against the inner surface of the tube, a plurality of rollers movable to urge the tube .against the stationary roller, means for moving the rollers and the cutter around the periphery of the tube, and means for advancing the cutter toward the stationary roller to distort the metal of the tube therebetween and form an annular flange on the tube.

4. A flange forming device for tubes comprising a plurality of rollers circumferentially spaced on the tube, means for carrying the rollers, a cutter carried on said means receivable in the end of 7 at one end forming an annular cutting edge of .7

smaller radius than said roller.

5. A flange forming device for tubes comprising a plurality of rollers circumferentially spaced on thev tube, means for carrying the rollers, a cylindrical cutter carried on said means receivable in the end of said tube, said cutter having an annular cutting edge and an annular shoulder arranged to abut the end of the tube, and means to adjust the radial position of the cutter toward and away from one roller for pressure contact with the inner surface of the tube, said roller having an annular recess at one end for the reception of the tube metal forced therein by the pressure of the cutter, said recess forming an annular cutting edge of smaller radius than said roller, cooperable with the cutter in severing the metal.

6. A flange forming device fortubes comprising a yoke, a carriage supported in the center of the yoke for movement toward the ends thereof, a plurality of rollers carried by the carriage and one end of the yoke, arranged for circumferential spaced contact against the outer surface of a tube, means secured in the opposite end of the yoke for moving the carriage to bring the rollers into contact with the tube, a cutter supported on the yoke for entry in the end of the tube, and means for moving the cutter into cutting relationship with one of said rollers, said roller hav-.

tube, means secured in the opposite end of the yoke for moving the carriage to bring the rollers into contact with the tube, a cutter supported on the yoke for entry in the end of the tube, and means for moving the cutter into cutting relationship with one of said rollers, each'of said rollers having a recess for reception of the flanged metal.

8. A flange forming device for tubes comprising a yoke,'a carriage supported in the center of the yoke for movement toward the ends thereof, a plurality of rollers carried by the carriage and one end of the yoke arranged for circumferential spaced contact against the outer surface of a tube to support the yoke thereon for rotation, means secured in the opposite end of the yoke for moving thecarriage to bring the rollers into contact with the tube, a cutter supported on the yoke for entry into the end of the tube, and means for moving said cutter into cutting relationship with one of said rollers and for progressively advancing the cutter as rotation of the yoke proceeds, said roller having a flanging recess for reception of the metal distorted during the cutting operation, and a cutting edge for cooperation with the cutter to sever the metal.

9. A flange forming device for tubes comprising a yoke, a carriage supported in the center of the yoke for movement toward the ends thereof,

a forming roller supported in one end of the yoke, a plurality of rollers on the carriage arranged for circumferential spaced contact against the outer surface of a tube, means secured in the opposite end of the yoke for moving the carriage to bring the forming roller and the rollers of said carriage into contact with the tube and secure the tube therebetween for rotation, a cutter positioned for entry into the end of the tube, and means for supporting the cutter in an offset position with respect to said forming roller including means for varying the cutting relationship therebetween.

10. A flange forming device for tubes comprising a yoke having spaced ends, a carriage, means for supporting the carriage on the yoke for longitudinai movement toward and away from one end thereof, a forming roller supported on said end of the yoke, a plurality of rollers supported on the carriage, means supported in the opposite end of said yoke for adjusting the position of said carriage to accommodate any of a plurality of different sized tubes between said forming roller and the rollers on said carriage, said means serving as a handle for rotating the device on the tube, and a cutter supported on the yoke for entry into the end of the tube and for adjustment toward and away from the forming roller for the purpose of forming an annular flange on the end of the tube.

11. The combination in a flange forming device for tubes of a forming member adapted to bear against the outer surface of a tube and having a cutting edge, a cutter adapted to be inserted in the bore of the tube, means for guiding the cutter and forming member and for imparting relative rotative movement between the cutter and forming member and the tube to cause the cutter and th forming member to travel circumferentially of the tube, and means for imparting progressive approach movement to the cutter and forming member during said rotative movement to progressively form the flange and to sever the metal therebetween, to trim and flange the end of the tube transversely of the axis thereof.' 4

12. The combination in a flange forming device for tubes of a forming member adapted to bear against the outer surface of a tube and having a cutting edge, a cutter adapted to be inserted in the end. of the tube with the cutting edge thereof in substantial alignment with that of the forming member, means for imparting relative rotative movement between the cutter and forming member and the tube to cause the cutter and forming member to travel circumferentially of the tube, means for imparting approach movement to the cutter and the forming member upon successive rotative movements to form the flange between the former and the cutter and to sever the metal between said cutting edges to trim the end of the tube, and means acting against the surface of the tube for maintaining the forming member and the cutter in alignment with the tube to cause the tube to be cut in a plane transverse to its axis.

JOHN HERBERT ABRAMSON. EDWIN C. SWANSON. 

